Advisors

The AFV
Advisory Network

Startups encounter many challenges that are new to them, but not new to everyone. Through strategic guidance, network expansion, and coaching and mentorship, our accomplished advisors help AFV portfolio founders find solutions, unlock value, and grow.

Our advisors

Filter By Expertise

Brian Coburn

As the founding partner of Stratix Advisory, Brian specializes in direct investing and strategic advisory for FinTech companies. He has over a decade of experience in deal-making, including $100M+ deployed as an investor at Aquiline and $7B advising capital markets transactions at Financial Technology Partners.

Advisory & Consulting

Business Development

Capital Markets & M&A

Corporate Strategy

Finance & Accounting

Financial Services

Fundraising & Investor Relations

Christopher Conti

With experience as Chief Claims Officer at American Family Group, Chris led claims consolidation across business units, optimized operating efficiency, improved customer and agent satisfaction, and drove digital innovation. He brings a passion for organizational transformation, technology innovation, and leadership development.

Advisory & Consulting

Customer Success

Executive Leadership

Go-to-Market Strategy

Human Resources

Information Technology

Cory Friedman

Currently a Partner and Senior Vice President at Alera Group, Cory specializes in benefits consulting for growing small and mid-size employers. His focus is group health insurance and benefit programs for start-ups, private equity-backed companies, and healthcare organizations.

Advisory & Consulting

Business Development

Go-to-Market Strategy

Human Resources

Talent & Hiring

Dan Olszewski

As the Director of the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship at the Wisconsin School of Business, Dan has 18 years of experience teaching. Prior to teaching he was the CEO of Parts Now!, where he increased revenues from $26MM to $400MM.

Corporate Strategy

Executive Leadership

Financial Services

Risk Management

Talent & Hiring

Gregg Mellinger

A leader with extensive health and welfare plan experience, Gregg advises PE firms, public, and private clients to manage & reduce costs and drive their employee value proposition. Founder of CFOrward, provides education and mentoring to corporate finance executives.

Advisory & Consulting

Business Development

Executive Leadership

Human Resources

Risk Management

Jack Butcher

Founder and CEO of Spear Tip Advisors, Jack provides assistance and support to leaders and teams in overcoming organizational growth and performance challenges. Formerly, he served as president at Hagerty, and served over 20 years in executive roles at international insurance brokerage firms. Additionally, he has over 25 years of experience as an advisor, board member, and investor in early-stage companies.

Advisory & Consulting

Business Development

Executive Leadership

Jessica Schultz

Excelling in strategy development, relationship building, and tactical project management, Jess has scaled teams at Merrill Lynch and TriNet. She also led investments at Manifold Ventures and serves as a venture partner, angel investor, board member, and startup advisor.

Brand, PR, & Media

Business Development

Financial Services

Go-to-Market Strategy

Technology/SaaS

Joan Schmit

As the American Family Insurance Distinguished Chair in Risk Management at UW-Madison for 30 years, Joan T. Schmit is an expert in insurance regulation and enterprise risk management. She has published extensively and is the editor of the Journal of Risk and Insurance.

Compliance & Regulatory

Finance & Accounting

Financial Services

Product Development

Risk Management

Joe Hissong

With over 30 years in financial services, Joe most recently served as President of Essent Reinsurance, where he grew profits from under $2M to over $200M annually. He also led Cartesian Re, increasing assets under management by 6X, and held senior roles at PartnerRe and Swiss Re.

Advisory & Consulting

Compliance & Regulatory

Corporate Strategy

Executive Leadership

Financial Services

Kartheek Mulpuri

A finance and strategy executive with experience at ClickUp, MediaMath, b8ta, and Brickwork, Kartheek runs The Brazen Path, advising early and mid-stage startups. Previously a venture capitalist and investment banker, he has worked on $2B in transactions and holds degrees from Stanford and Cornell.

Advisory & Consulting

Capital Markets & M&A

Corporate Strategy

Finance & Accounting

Go-to-Market Strategy

Technology/SaaS

Matthew Anarde

With over 20 years in tech and VC, Matt Anarde has led large-scale projects across healthcare, education, and financial services. As a founding partner at Manifold and Founder Equity, he excels in managing startups and investments, including successful turnarounds.

Advisory & Consulting

Data & Engineering

Finance & Accounting

Fundraising & Investor Relations

Information Technology

Product Development

Technology/SaaS

Michael Leonard

Co-founder and Partner of Klein Hersh’s healthcare practice, Mike Leonard excels in recruiting top executives for innovative insurance, provider, and VC/PE-backed companies. With 15 years of experience, Mike has an extensive network and facilitates introductions to investors and advisors.

Executive Leadership

Network & Community

Talent & Hiring

Technology/SaaS

Mike Rome

With over a decade of experience scaling startups, Mike has helped companies grow from $1M to $50M+, acquired millions of customers, managed 8-figure budgets, led teams, and developed growth playbooks. He also teaches at top MBA programs and accelerators.

Advisory & Consulting

Financial Services

Go-to-Market Strategy

Product Development

Technology/SaaS

Nate Akers

A Sr. Partner at HealthScape Advisors, Nate leads value-based care and network solutions. He serves on a medical group board in Florida, advises early-stage healthcare entities, and has extensive consulting experience. At HCSC, he led network and value-based care strategy.

Advisory & Consulting

Business Development

Corporate Strategy

Executive Leadership

Go-to-Market Strategy

Network & Community

Nathan Linsley

As a former senior executive at HCSC, Nathan led Government and Individual Markets, generating $30 billion annually. With expertise in strategy, finance, and operations, he excels in leveraging data for performance and has served on several healthcare IT and tech boards.

Advisory & Consulting

Business Development

Capital Markets & M&A

Corporate Strategy

Executive Leadership

Go-to-Market Strategy

Naveen Agarwal

A serial entrepreneur and C-suite executive, Naveen advises boards and CEOs on business growth and go to market. He led digital, AI and marketing at Prudential and held senior roles at E*TRADE. He serves on the board of Ascension Health and is on CNBC Council of Advisors.

Brand, PR, & Media

Capital Markets & M&A

Data & Engineering

Financial Services

Fundraising & Investor Relations

Go-to-Market Strategy

Technology/SaaS

Nick Gerhart

Chief Operating Officer at Homesteaders Life Company, Nick oversees sales, ventures, and strategy. Previously, he was Chief Administrative Officer at FBL Financial Group and Insurance Commissioner of Iowa. He advises startups and is active in community leadership.

Advisory & Consulting

Compliance & Regulatory

Corporate Strategy

Executive Leadership

Financial Services

Fundraising & Investor Relations

Richard LaVoice

Spanning three decades of expertise in financial and insurance services, the former Executive Vice President at Symetra Financial advises insurtech startups on business development and sales coaching for senior executives, driving revenue growth and innovation.

Advisory & Consulting

Business Development

Corporate Strategy

Executive Leadership

Financial Services

Product Development

Tish Squillaro

The founder of CANDOR Consulting, Tish specializes in strategic talent management, organizational dynamics, and business mediation. With expertise in change management and multicultural dynamics, she helps companies build effective teams and leaders, addressing core business challenges for long-term success.

Advisory & Consulting

Corporate Strategy

Executive Leadership

Go-to-Market Strategy

Human Resources

Talent & Hiring